I think the movie is okay, it's sometimes funny and almost all the time entertaining. But I think the scene where sir Charles Lytton is talking with princess Dala who lies on the tiger, is very boring. Nothing happens there and it's so long. I thought many times that now they'll cut to other place and scene but no. The movie is a couple of times a little boring, but it still is a nice movie!
sharei think that's just the age of the film showing... i mean, i've found the scene to be both interesting and boring - simultaneously, believe it or not - but i think it's just because people in those days tended to have a longer attention span, and that's just the way a lot of films were back then... doesn't diminish from the overall quality of the film, IMO, but it's just maybe not as high-paced as most modern films try to stay...
what really bored me, though, was when the whole film seemed to come to a screeching halt so Fran Jeffries could sing her song at the party... that's also a big part of how older films were often done, but in this case it's not as charming as the scene you mentioned... at least the scene with the Princess seemed to have a point - to show Charles' "Don Juan" qualities and help explain the Princess' later actions - but the song didn't really serve much of a purpose, IMO... not as far as the storyline of the film goes, at least...
http://therapeuticpink.proboards102.com
"People in those days tended to have a longer attention span".
Unfortunately, in the case of this garish second rate farce, there isn`t terribly much that`s worth paying attention to.
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan
I kept on thinking there was gonna be a sex scene between them and was then disappointed.
shareIsn't it way past all of your bedtimes?
shareThat's odd because that was the only scene I really liked. I can't progress past the first hour of this film because it just seems so dull - but that piece with the tiger rug, that's gorgeous.
shareThat's pretty funny, but I can assure you that there are young people who appreciate a great movie like this. It's not just your chronological age that matters, but also your mental age.
"Ya never know what ya don't know, ya know?"
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Blake Edwards made his films for adults. Nothing happens there? There is flirting and seduction and character exposition. Its a very intimate scene. I enjoyed it. I thought Claudia Cardinale was both strong and vulnerable and very sexy. Who wouldnt have loved to be in David Nivens shoes?
I love it when she asks the tiger why he didn't protect her. It's a very playful scene to say the least.
shareI agree that this movie is a bit slow going at times. However I don't think Blake Edwards had in mind that there would be a string of slapstick sequels. The focus of this movie is more David Niven who obviously is not really a comedian.
When the sequels were made, Peter Sellers became the star, and things just went absolutely crazy!! Cato and Dreyfus definitely added to all the lunacy of the sequels.
I've always maintained this to be vastly inferior film to the sequels. But I watched it again last night after not having seen it for 3-4 years and I have to say that I've relaxed my opinion on it. As a stand-alone film it's not actually that bad. Yeah it doesn't have me in stitches like Shot/Return/Strikes/Revenge but it's worth watching and it's good for a few laughs. Plus the soundtrack is the best of all the Pink Panther films with Sellers. For those who say that the ending is poor - Clouseau gets out of jail within at least 3 months, probably even 1 month, so don't feel too sorry for him.
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I watched it tonight. Odd, that at my age I never sat through it before. I can see how a modern audience might find it slow, but I actually laughed out loud a number of times and I prefer Sellars here, in a supporting role, rather than his later starring career.
Carninale and Capucine were gorgeous, and I liked the scenes in the bedroom--it was almost in Marx Brothers territory, I thought.
I believe that scene was meant to showcase the beauty of Claudia Cardinale. We get to look at her for a very long time. Audiences must have found that quite a treat at the time.
shareI think you got it right.
That was actually one of my favorite scenes. It completely breaks the movie's pace and is actually quite charming. However, I find the best scene to be the Meglio stasera musical number. Despite having nothing to do with the plot, the performance is enjoyable and the song is catchy to boot. A mini-intermission of sorts.
I remember that this was the first "old movie" I've ever seen, at a very young age, at that. I never once found it to be boring and was completely immersed in it. I was used to faster-paced newer films filmed in an entire different style altogether, so seeing a movie made in earlier times was very interesting to me. I rewatched it today and certainly found some parts from the first hour of it to drag on, but overall it was still entertaning. I'm nostalgically bound to this movie, so I can't dislike it if i tried.
Interestingly enough, I hated the ending when I first saw the film as a kid, but now I think it's really clever.
That was one of my favourite scenes..
shareI suppose when I first saw this movie as a kid on TV in the 60's, the long scene with the Princess on the tiger rug seemed a bit dull. The older I got, though, the better it was.
"Meglio Stasera", though, has ALWAYS been one of my favorite moments in the film, even if it makes NO SENSE being there! I figure it's the equivalent of a non-existent intermission, when people could go to the lobby or whatever and not miss any of the plot. I LOVE the song... and Fran Jeffries really turns me on.
However... the TWO very, very long scenes with Clouseau & his wife in the bedroom have long bored the hell out of me. The first time I watched the pictue, I put up with them, but on each suibsequent viewing, they got worse and worse. THEY really seem to go on forever. And decades later, I found out, they were inserted at the last minute, in order to give Sellers more screen time.
Tonight, for the first time, I took advantage of my VCRs fast-forward scan, and SKIPPED both scenes. Sure enough, I enjoyed the entire film much more this way. Let's face it, David Niven was SUPPOSED to be the star in this one. Peter Sellers got his shot in the sequel.
I watched this film again last night for the first time in about 30 years. I hadn't realised how long it was and did find those scenes (the princess/Niven and the song) to be very long (and in the case of the song - a bit random!).........but I think that's just old film-making for you.
I was discussing it with my husband and we both said that people these days are so used to films entertaining them more obviously that older films like this often don't appeal to younger people who didn't grow up with them - having said that though, our kids watched it with us and the younger one (who's 12) got bored and went to bed, but the 14 yr old sat through it, endured the slow start and quite enjoyed the ending with the car chase around Rome (which was always one of my favourites as a child).
If you've seen the other Panther films you can see how Sellers' character is about to grow from this film which is interesting, but as a first Panther film to watch, I think one of the later ones might be a better choice.
The hairstyles and clothes though are fantastic, I love seeing all the old 60's glamour and Claudia Cardinale is a beautiful woman......I don't suppose many men found that scene boring ;o)
Sorry, although the film can be slow at times, and it definitely is not laugh-out-loud funny, as a nostalgic piece from the 60's, the film is a classic. Cortina looks absolutely beautiful, the clothes and music are superlative,and Claudia Cardinale on the tiger rug makes my heart beat faster each time I watch the scene. As a youngster I envisioned myself a dashing and debonair ladies man (albeit better looking)like Niven. As for the "domani" song, perfect reflection of early 60's pop culture.
shareThis is NOT like the following Pink Panther movies. Meant to be a true "caper" film in the thin man vein as stated in the trivia. More of a romantic comedy thriller of its day. Nonetheless I have always found it slow and tedious in parts even considering the type of film. Niven is always an understated star, barely moving and showing little emotion. Claudia's dubbed voice is distracting. Saw it when it first came out and even then I found myself waiting for the next scene with Sellers. Far too many scenes of Niven and anyone chatting and chatting. Still, watching it once more as I write this......which again tells you something doesn't it.
shareSure the movie has some languid pacing (especially for today's audiences who seem to lack any patience) and a few throwaway scenes, but the part you mention with Princess Dahla certainly ain't one of them: Claudia Cardinale sprawled out on a tigerskin rug, with numerous closeups of her exquisite face lit by firelight. This scene is a highlight of the movie and has always been one of my favorites, even when I was a kid. Obviously, YMMV.
shareAgreed! The rest of the cast may have gone home when Sellers appeared. He wiped the floor with them.
shareSawt his recently having not seen it for a long time. I loved the parts with Sellers in them, and have always been impressed how a beautiful woman like Capucine took to the physical comedy with such aplomb. WHile Claudia Cardinale was stunning, this is not one of my favorites with her. I think she was still developing her style.
Meanwhile David Niven is in the picture too much. He was actually better in the somewhat similar Casino Royale.
Great sets and locations, too.